Method of making wheel-tires.



E. EINFBLDT] METHOD OF MAKING WHEEL TIR APPLIOATI 1,092,477.

UN FILED JULY 9, 1909. RENEWED AUG. 16, 1911.

Patented Apr. 7, 191 1 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. Z {qt welder @313 Qflozweqy XMQL B EINPBLDT. METHOD OF MAKING WHEEL TIRES. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 9,"1909. RENEWED AUG.-l6, 1911.

1,092,477. Patented Apr 7, 191i 2 SHEETSFSHEET UNHED STATES EMIL EINFELDT, 0F DAVENPORT, IOWA,

ASSIG-NOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 10

G. WATSON FRENCH, NATHANIEL FRENCH, AND JOSEPH L. HECHT, ALL OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, A FIRM.

METHOD OF MAKING WHEEL-TIRES.

PatentedAprut, Mild.

Application filed July 9, 1909, Serial No. 506,706. Renewed August 16,1911. Serial Noi 6 .4315.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL EINFELDT, of Davenport, county of Scott, and State of Iowa, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Methods of Making Wheel- Tires, of which the following is a, specification.

This invention consists of an improved method of making metal wheel tires, the object being to produce tires of true circular form and. of the exact pred termined size desired, and this without reg trd to any variations 0r irregularities that may exist in the tire material or. the welded connection of. the tire ends.

With this end in View, my improved method consists in providing a tire strip or blank of the general circular form of the tire, with its ends disconnected; heating the ends; forcing the tire into a true circle of the required predetermined diameter; and welding the ends of the tire.

The mechanism for carrying the method into effect may be of different forms and constructions, that illustrated in the accompanying drawings, operating to subjectthe tire blank in its disconnected unfinished condition and at a plurality of points in its circumference, to radial pressure, acting either to expand or contract the same, according as to Whether the bent blank is smaller or larger than the finished tire, and in this manner forcing the tire into true circular form of a definite and predetermined size, in which condition the weld between the ends of the tire is formed. The mechanism acts further-to clamp the tire at the several points in its circumference, and when the latter has been forced to its final size and shape, it may be held in this condition until the weld cools, thereby preventing any deformation, drawing-out of the weld, or other departure from the true circular form or required diameter. By this method of procedure, successive welded tires may be produced all of the same true circular form and all of the same uniform diameter.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 represents a tire blank bent into general circular form and smaller than the finished tire, with its ends overlapping to produce a lap-weld. Fig. 2 is 'a view showing said blank acted on by the pressure clamps and expanded to. its final predetermined size.

Fi is a similar view showing how the on s of the tire are heated. Fig. A: is a view showing how the heated ends are welded together. Fig. 5 is a view of the finished tire lap-welded. Fig. 6 represents a view of a tire blank'bent into circular form with its ends abutting so as to produce a butt-weld,

and greater in diameter than the finished tire. Fig. 7 is a View showing the means for heating the abutting ends of the tire, and the latter clamped and reduced in size so as to form the weld. Fig. 8 is a view of the tinished tire butt-welded.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4: and 5', which illustrate thestepsof my improved method in producing a tire with its ends connected by a lap-Weld, I first, in carrying "this method into effect, provide a tire blank A, which is bent as shown into general circular form and has its ends overlapping, the diameter of the bent blank in this case being less than that of the final finished tire. This tire is acted on atanumber of points by means of clamping devices B, comprising each, jaws b, I) adapted to grasp the tire blank on the inside and outside, and so sustained and actuated that when the jaws close, they will meet at points intersecting a true circular line drawn from a central point. As a result of this action, when the jaws close on the'open ended tire, they will act to bring or bend or spring the some to a predetermined fixed point, so that there can be no variation in the size of the tires or irregularity in their form. Any appropriate means by which these actions of the j aws are effected, may be resorted to, as they in themselves form no part of the present invc ntion. The tire blank with its ends disconnected and held, at different points in its circumference is now subjected at the point where the ends overlap, to heat, so as to soften these ends for-the purpose of effect ing the Weld. As shown in Fig. 3, the heat is applied by means of a mufile-furnace C,

When the ends tire is held by the clamping devices for a time suiiicient to allow the metal to cool, whereby itstrue circular form will be preserved and any change in diameter, due to the drawing-out of the weld. or to other causes, will be obviated. f

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the steps of my improved method where a butt-weld is formed between the tire ends. In carrying out my method where the weld is of this character, a tire blank is provided which,

when bentinto general circular form with its ends abutting as shown in Fig. 6, will be slightly greater in diameter than that of the finished tire. This figure shows the blank in this condition with the clamps'applied and opened. The abutting ends of the.

- tire are next heated, as by the mullle-furmice (Fig. 7), and when they have been sufiiciently heated to become soft enough for welding, the clamps are closed on the tire, and. engaging the same at a number of points in its circumference, they will act, as in the first case described, to bring the tire to its final predetermined circular form, the action'in this case being to reduce the diameter of the tire and resulting in the forcing of the heated ends into each other and their upsetting to form a' weld. The clamps, .as in the first case described, are held closed on the tire so as to hold it until the weld cools, after which the tire is removed and the weld subjected, if necessary, to a hammering or finishing operation to -smooth down any projections or enlarge ments.

so that there will be no irregularity or nonuniformity in the successive products.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The method of making tires, which consists in providing a tire strip or blank of the general form of the tire with its ends disconnected, holding the blank in true circular form of the required predetermined diameter, and welding the ends of the same while so held. Y

2. The method of making tires, which consists in providing a tire strip or blank of the general form of the tire with its ends disconnected, holding said blank in true circular form of the required predetermined diameter, welding the ends of the blank, and maintaining said hold thereon until the tire cools.

3. The method of making tires, which consists in providing a tire strip or blank of the general form of the tire with its ends disconnected, forcing the blank into a' true circle of the required predetermined diameter, holding the same, and welding the ends of the blank while so held.

4-. The method of making tires, which consists in' providing a tire strip or blank of the general form of the 'tirewith its ends overlapping and disconnected, forcing the blank into true circular form of the required diameter, the same together.

and welding the ends of 5. The method of making tires, which I consists in providing a tire strip or blank oi: the general form of the tire and with its ends disconnected, forcing the blank into a,

true circle ofthe required predetermined diameter and holding the same, and then welding the ends of the blank while so held. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 26th day of June, 1-909, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

EMIL EINFELhT.

Witnesses A r; .onnw NInLsoN, Saran NEILSON. 

